Rodgers, William

The Atlanta Constitution

Atlanta, GA

February 18, 1887 TAC

Transcribed and submitted by:

Rodgers, William

18 Feb 1887 (The Atlanta Constitution) Ground Up By A Train, A Boy Killed by a Freight Train in Dallas Night Before Last. William Rodgers, an eight year old white boy, was actually beheaded and horribly mangled by a freight train on the East Tennessee railroad at Dallas, in Paulding county, Wednesday night. The first intelligence of the boy’s tragic death reached Atlanta yesterday morning. In Dallas, as in every other town, boys who are not kept at home at night are liable to get into trouble. Night before last, soon after dark, an East Tennessee freight train rolled up to the depot at Dallas, and after stopping started to take a side track to cut out some cars. There were then several boys about the depot and among the number was young Rodgers. The boys were all in the habit of swinging on trains and as the train started back Rodgers with others grabbed the side rails on cars. In some way Rodgers did not secure a good hold and after the train had started to move he dropped under a car. In falling the boy’s neck lay close upon the rail, and before he could escape a heavy wheel passed over it, cutting his head entirely from his body. In attempting to escape the horrible death, young Rodgers threw his arms and one leg under the wheels and both arms and a leg were amputated. The accident was quickly discovered, and the boy was taken to his home. Yesterday Coroner Baxter held an inquest, and the jury exonerated the road from all blame. The road, however, consented to defray the funeral expenses.